LARK IN THE PARK
The "Lark in the Park" at the Waterfront Leisure Centre carpark was easily the music highlight of the weekend with MUNDY and JERRY FISH & THE MUDBUG CLUB plus local acts BLUE MOOSE and WALLIS BYRD. Awful pity the numbers attending were so low. Let's hope this does not stop this event being repeated in the future.

RIG ON THE SQUARE
The following acts performed FREE in The Square.
Thursday
Up For It
Friday
Blue Lace
Saturday
Broken Hill
The Fureys
Sunday
Theresa & The Stars
Bog The Donkey

CARLSBERG RHYTHM ROUTES Free Gig Trail

BLUE MOON BOYS
Greased hair, saddle shoes, rolled-up blue jeans. From the USA came the Blue Moon Boys bringing high octane, man-sized rockabilly. Featuring Nic Roulette's Elvis-like vocals and the fast-flying fingers of guitarist Kenny Taylor, the Blue Moon Boys hit you with infectiously good music that gets those ol’ wobble-legs workin’. Their lineup features a smooth upright bass, stripped down percussion and smoking guitar sounds that howl along with Roulette's vocal antics.
Treacy’s Hotel, Friday, 2 July.

BLUES UPFRONT
Blues up Front served up a couple of lovely gigs over the weekend. Formed about 10 years ago by singer Joe O'Keffe and Guitarist Pat Kilty they specialise in full-on, hard-hitting Chicago blues. Brian Downey joined in 1999 with bass guitarist Sean Doyle. Then there's the wonderful blues/swing/soul singer Kevin Morrow.
The Old House (Fri), Holohans (Sat).

JON HICKS
Formerly of Big Geraniums and Lia Luachra, Jon Hicks is one of the best folk guitarists and songwriters you will hear today. He injects an eclectic mix of Irish, Spanish, and jazz influences into his work which has the effect of whisking you in moments from Galway to Gallicia to the ‘gator-infested swamps of Louisiana.
“On course to become a bit of a guitar god.” FolkRoots
Antique Tavern (Sat). Also performed at a great Brunch Jam in The Arches with Noel Shine, Mary Greene, Ben Prevo on Sunday.

BLUZE - THE BAND
Based in Gloucestershire, Bluze play straight-up, no-fuss Delta blues with a twist – think Taj Mahal, Robert Johnson, Sleepy John Estes and even JJ Cale. The line-up is Chris Mayfield – bass, guitar, vocals, Baez – harmonica, jaws harp, Chris Willey - guitar, vocals, Les Morgan – drums. Expect to see them reappearing on the programme in 2005.
The Arches (Fri), Sawyer's (Sat), Holohan's (Sun).

TWO TIME POLKA
What makes Two Time Polka so good? What is a band from Cork doing playing such goddam, sweet-sounding Louisiana Cajun?A perennial favourite in Wexford is the wonderful Two Time Polka. Based in Cork this band has a reputation for turning out great live performances. Their music comes soaked in the humid swamp heat of high Summer Louisiana. They sound so good that they are play-listed on a number of American stations. As is their wont they engaged in a little New Orleans style partying.
Holohan's (Fri), Rackard's and Old House (Sat)

RHINESTONE
Duo featuring Australian Chiara Browne and Mick McCarney. Chiara, who normally fronts The Rose Ponies, has star-quality written all over her. Whether singing an original number or Dusty Springfield’s Son Of A Preacher Man or the Janis Joplin version of Bobby Magee she will hold you enthralled.
Antique Tavern (Sat), The Old House (Sun).

NOEL SHINE AND MARY GREENE
Noel Shine & Mary Greene showed why they are one of the most respected folk acts around. Their music sees a merging of American and Irish folk with the duo using harmonies to great effect. Mary’s singing is somewhat similar to that other Mary (Black) while Noel’s guitar picking is pure genius.
Antique Tavern (Fri), Holohan's (Sat)

DARREN BYRNE
Darren is one of a kind. Standing there, bódhran is hand, rapping away he is like a strange brew equal parts Luka Bloom, Shane McGowan and Tom Waits. He is a dynamic and refreshing presence on the Wexford folk scene.
John Doyle's, The Duffry (Fri)

NIALL TONER BAND
The Niall Toner Band pays homage to the wonderful musical heritage of the great Bill Monroe, Jimmie Rodgers, The Carter Family, and Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs. The band comprises Clem O'Brien, Dick Gladney and Niall himself. They play everything from straight-ahead traditional country to hardcore bluegrass. Formerly head bottle-washer in Hank Halfhead & The Rambling Turkies, Niall shares singing duties with Clem and plays guitar and mandolin. Clem is well respected in his own right as the finest flat-picker around and also famed for his incredible high Tenor singing voice. Dick Gladney holds down a rock-solid rhythm on his double bass.It's always a treat to hear them.
The Arches (Sun)

DEKO KENNEDY
A blues man in the mould of Rory Gallagher, Deko performed a really enjoyable acoustic set.
Antique Tavern (Sun)

RAINDOGS
Raindogs are not just influenced by Tom Waits, and the Wait’s album going under that name, they also tip their hats to The Doors, Hendrix, Marley and The Stones. One of the most entertaining bands of the weekend.
Treacy's Hotel - bar (Sat)

BEN PREVO BAND
This no-nonsense, hard-hitting comboalways serves up a heady brew of blues, soul, rock and funk with great panache. The main man is New Yorker Ben Prevo (guitar & vocals) who has worked with Jaco Pastorius, Jefferson Airplane and Hothouse Flowers. Ben was part of one of the gigs of the weekend, namely the Sunday jam in The Arches where he joined Noel Shine, Mary Greene and Jon Hicks.
Murphy Flood's Hotel (Fri), The Arches (Sat), The Arches - Brunch Jam (Sun)